The post creation wizard guides you through a four-step process to compose, customize, and schedule content for Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Each step collects specific information, and a live preview on the right side shows exactly how your post will appear on each platform in real time.
Opening the Wizard
Navigate to the Scheduler page from the sidebar and click the New Post button in the top-right corner. This opens the post creation wizard at Step 1 (Media). You can also reach the wizard directly via the URL path /workspaces/{id}/plan.
Account and Platform Selection
At the top of every step, your connected social accounts appear as selectable chips. Each chip displays the account avatar, platform icon (Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok), and the display name. All accounts are pre-selected by default when you open the wizard.
Selecting Accounts
Click on an account chip to toggle its selection on or off. A filled checkbox and highlighted border indicate the account is currently active. You can select multiple accounts across different platforms to publish the same content simultaneously to Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Platform-Specific Constraints
Instagram and TikTok accounts appear grayed out and disabled until you upload at least one media file in Step 1. This is because both platforms require visual content for every post. Facebook accounts can be selected immediately, as Facebook supports text-only posts without any media.
Content Type Selector
When at least one non-TikTok account is selected, a content type selector appears below the account chips. Choose between three post formats:
| Content Type | Description | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Feed | Standard post in the main feed. Supports photos, videos, carousels, and text-only (Facebook). | Facebook, Instagram |
| Reel | Short-form vertical video in 9:16 aspect ratio. Requires at least one video file. | Facebook, Instagram |
| Story | Ephemeral content that disappears after 24 hours. Caption and first comment fields are disabled for this type. | Facebook, Instagram |
TikTok posts always follow TikTok-specific formatting rules and do not use the content type selector. When only TikTok accounts are selected, the selector is hidden.
TikTok Creator Info
When a TikTok account is selected, the wizard silently loads the creator information (privacy options, comment settings, maximum video duration) in the background. This data is needed for TikTok-specific options in Step 3.
Step 1: Media Upload
The first step is where you add images and videos to your post. A short instruction reads "Add images or videos" above the upload area.
Upload Methods
Two buttons appear side by side at the top of the upload card:
- Upload (dashed border button) -- Opens your device's file picker. You can select one or more image or video files at once. The dashed border indicates that the area also serves as a drop zone for drag-and-drop.
- Media Library (folder icon button) -- Opens the workspace media library modal where you can browse and select previously uploaded files. Files already attached to the current post are grayed out to prevent duplicates.
Supported File Formats
The uploader accepts the following file types:
| Type | Accepted Formats | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Images | JPEG, PNG, BMP | GIF is not supported on Facebook. WebP may not be accepted by all platforms. |
| Videos | MP4, MOV (QuickTime) | Must include a valid audio track for best results. |
Media Grid
After uploading, files appear in a responsive grid layout (2 columns on mobile, 3 columns on desktop). Each media card shows:
- A thumbnail preview of the image or the first frame of the video
- A validation status icon in the top-left corner (green checkmark if valid, red alert circle if issues exist)
- An edit overlay that appears on hover with an "Edit" button to open the media editor
- Platform compatibility badges below the thumbnail (e.g., Instagram badge, Facebook badge)
- Validation errors (red) and warnings (yellow) expanded below the badges when applicable
- A red X button in the top-right corner to remove the file from the post
- User tag buttons in the bottom-right corner for image files (pin icon for visual tagging, person+ icon for quick tag)
Platform Validation
Every uploaded file is automatically validated against the technical requirements of all selected platforms. The validation runs immediately after upload and provides three levels of feedback:
- Errors (red background) -- Blocking issues that will prevent the post from being published, such as unsupported file formats, files exceeding the maximum size, or invalid aspect ratios.
- Warnings (yellow background) -- Non-blocking issues that may affect quality, such as non-standard resolution, low frame rate, or non-stereo audio.
- Suggestions (info text) -- Optimization tips like recommended dimensions or format recommendations for specific platforms.
A summary bar at the bottom of the upload card shows how many files passed validation out of the total uploaded (e.g., "2 of 3 files valid").
Media Validation Rules
The following table shows the exact validation requirements enforced by the backend for each platform:
| Requirement | Instagram Photo | Instagram Video | Facebook Photo | Facebook Video | TikTok Video |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max File Size | 8 MB | 100 MB | 30 MB | 100 MB | 64 MB per chunk |
| Formats | JPEG, PNG, BMP | MP4, MOV | JPEG, PNG, BMP | MP4, MOV | MP4, MOV |
| Min Resolution | 320x320 px | 720x720 px | 150x150 px | 540x960 px | 720x1280 px |
| Recommended Width | 1080 px | 1080 px | 1080 px | 1920 px | 1080 px |
| Aspect Ratio | 4:5 to 1.91:1 | 9:16 to 16:9 | 9:16 to 16:9 | 9:16 to 16:9 | 9:16 |
| Duration | -- | 3s to 15 min | -- | 1s to 40 min | 3s to 10 min |
| Min Frame Rate | -- | 30 FPS | -- | 30 FPS | 30 FPS |
| Audio | -- | Stereo, 128 kbps | -- | -- | -- |
Instagram Reels have stricter requirements: 9:16 to 3:4 aspect ratio, 3 to 90 seconds duration, minimum 1080x1920 resolution.
Instagram Stories require exactly 1080x1920 resolution (9:16), with a maximum duration of 15 seconds for video stories.
Opening the Media Editor
Click on any media thumbnail or the "Edit" button overlay to open the built-in media editor. For images, the Photo Editor opens with crop, filter, text overlay, adjustments, and transform tools. For videos, the Video Editor opens with trim, speed, and mute controls. See the Media Editor article for complete details.
After editing, the modified file replaces the original in the media grid. The file is re-validated automatically against all selected platforms.
User Tagging (Instagram)
For image files, two tagging buttons appear in the bottom-right corner of each media thumbnail:
- Pin icon -- Opens a visual tagging modal. Click anywhere on the image to place a tag at that exact position, then enter the Instagram username.
- Person+ icon -- Quick-adds a username tag at the default center position (50%, 50%). A prompt asks for the username.
Tags appear as small dark labels (e.g., "@username") overlaid on the image preview. Tags are stored with x/y coordinates normalized to 0.0-1.0 range.
Step 2: Text Composition
The second step is for writing your post caption, adding hashtags, and composing an optional first comment.
Caption Field
A large text area for your main post caption. The field supports multi-line text and updates the live preview in real time as you type. When the content type is set to "Story," the caption field is disabled with a gray background and a badge explaining that stories do not support captions on Instagram.
A tool button sits in the top-right corner of the text area:
- Emoji Picker (yellow smiley icon) -- Opens a full-featured emoji picker with category tabs, a search bar, skin tone selection, and a preview panel. Click any emoji to insert it at the end of the current text. The picker remains open until you click outside it, press Escape, or click the close button. Disabled for stories.
Character Limits by Platform
Different platforms enforce different character limits. The wizard does not hard-block you from exceeding these limits, but the platform API may reject posts that exceed them.
| Platform | Caption Limit | First Comment Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,200 characters | 2,200 characters | Hashtags count toward the limit | |
| 63,206 characters | No hard limit | Long text is collapsed in the feed | |
| TikTok Video | 2,200 characters | Not supported | Title only |
| TikTok Photo | 90 characters (title) + 4,000 (description) | Not supported | Title is separate from description |
First Comment
An optional text area below the caption for composing a first comment. This comment is automatically posted immediately after your main post is published. It is a popular Instagram strategy to place additional hashtags or calls to action in the first comment rather than in the main caption. The field is disabled for stories.
A character counter at the bottom-right shows the current text length.
Hashtags
Hashtags can be typed directly in the caption text using the # symbol (e.g. #marketing #social). Detected hashtags are displayed as badges in the review summary.
Platform-Specific Captions
When you have selected accounts from two or more different platforms (e.g., Facebook and Instagram), an optional "Platform-specific captions" section appears below the text field. This lets you write a custom caption for each platform individually.
A toggle switch is shown for each selected platform. When you activate a toggle, an additional text field opens for that platform. The main caption is copied as a starting value and can then be customized. Platforms without an activated toggle continue to use the main caption.
This is useful when you want to use a longer, conversational tone on Facebook and a shorter caption with more hashtags on Instagram, for example.
Step 3: Options
The third step configures scheduling timing and platform-specific posting options.
TikTok Options
When a TikTok account is selected and the creator info has loaded, a TikTok Options card appears at the top of this step. It shows the TikTok logo and the heading "TikTok Options." The available settings depend on the creator's account configuration:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Privacy Level | Controls who can view the post. Options may include: Public to Everyone, Mutual Follow Friends, Self Only. The available options are determined by your TikTok creator settings. |
| Disable Comments | Toggle to prevent viewers from commenting on the post. |
| Disable Duet | Toggle to prevent viewers from creating Duet videos with your content. |
| Disable Stitch | Toggle to prevent viewers from using Stitch to incorporate clips from your video. |
| Auto-Add Music | Let TikTok automatically select and add background music to the post. |
| Brand Content Toggle | Mark the post as a paid partnership or branded content to comply with advertising disclosure requirements. |
| Brand Organic Toggle | Mark the post as organic brand promotion (self-promotion). |
| AI-Generated Content | Disclose if the content was created or significantly modified by artificial intelligence. |
Scheduling Options
Below the TikTok options (or at the top of this step when no TikTok account is selected), a Scheduling card appears with a toggle switch labeled "Schedule post."
When the toggle is off (default): No scheduling is configured. The post will be published immediately when you click "Publish" on the Review step.
When the toggle is on: A date and time picker section expands with a highlighted blue border:
- Date Picker -- A calendar widget that prevents selecting dates in the past. You can navigate months and years, and select dates up to 5 years in advance.
- Time Picker -- A time input field in HH:MM format for selecting the exact publication time. The time is interpreted in your local browser timezone.
The selected date and time appear in the compact summary card and in the live preview.
Step 4: Review and Publish
The final step gives you a complete overview of your post for a last check before publishing or scheduling.
Compact Summary Card
A white summary card at the top shows four key metrics in a 4-column grid:
| Metric | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Characters | Total character count of your caption text |
| Hashtags | Number of hashtags attached to the post |
| Media | Number of media files (images and videos) |
| Tags | Total number of user tags across all media files |
Below the metrics grid, a row of selected accounts appears as small platform-colored circles (blue for Facebook, gradient pink for Instagram, dark gray for TikTok). Hovering over each circle shows a tooltip with the account display name.
If a scheduled date is configured, it appears at the bottom of the card with a clock icon and a formatted date string (e.g., "12. Feb 2026, 14:30").
Live Preview
The live preview renders a realistic smartphone frame for each selected platform. On desktop, it is permanently visible in the right panel (45% width). On mobile, it appears inline on the Review step and is also accessible via the eye icon button in the bottom navigation bar.
Facebook Preview -- Shows the Facebook feed layout including: the blue Facebook header bar, a post author row with page name and timestamp, the caption with hashtags in blue, a media carousel (4:3 aspect ratio) with navigation arrows and dot indicators, a reaction bar with Like and Heart icons, and action buttons (Like, Comment, Share).
Instagram Preview -- Shows the Instagram feed layout including: the gradient Instagram header, an author row with gradient avatar ring and username, media display (square for Feed posts, 9:16 for Reels/Stories), an action bar (Heart, Comment, Share, Bookmark), a likes counter, and the caption with username prefix and hashtags in dark blue. Location information appears below the caption if set.
TikTok Preview -- Shows the full-screen TikTok dark layout including: a dark gradient overlay, "Following" and "For You" tab headers, right-side action buttons (Profile with plus badge, Heart, Comment, Bookmark, Share, spinning music disc), the username with @ prefix, the caption with hashtags in white bold, and a music bar with a marquee animation showing "Original Audio."
When multiple platforms are selected, segmented tab buttons at the top of the preview let you switch between platform views. Each tab shows the platform icon and name with platform-specific accent colors when active.
Validation Messages
If any validation issues remain, a yellow warning banner appears below the summary card. Common messages include:
- "Instagram and TikTok require at least one image or video"
- "TikTok creator info is required" (still loading)
- "TikTok photo limit exceeded (max 35 images)"
- "Video duration exceeds TikTok maximum"
- "Reels require at least one video"
- "Stories require at least one media file"
Both the Schedule and Publish buttons are disabled when validation errors exist.
Publishing Actions
Two buttons appear at the bottom of the screen:
- Schedule (clock icon) -- Saves the post with the configured date and time from Step 3. If no date was set in Step 3, the current time is used as the scheduled date.
- Publish (send icon) -- Publishes the post immediately to all selected platforms. The accent-colored primary button.
Upload Progress Modal
After clicking either button, a modal overlay appears showing the upload and scheduling progress:
- Current file name being uploaded
- File counter (e.g., "File 2 of 5")
- Progress bar showing overall upload percentage
- Status stages: Uploading (file transfer to S3), Processing (server-side), Scheduling (creating the scheduled post entries), Completed (success with redirect)
- Cancel button to abort the upload at any time. Cancellation is immediate and all already-uploaded files are preserved.
Local files (those added from your device, marked with isLocal: true) are uploaded to S3 via presigned URLs with progress tracking. Files selected from the media library (already in S3) skip the upload step entirely.
After successful completion, you are automatically redirected to the Scheduler page after a 1-second delay.
Wizard Navigation
Progress Bar
At the very top of the wizard, a segmented progress bar shows your position across the four steps. Completed steps show a muted accent color, the current step shows a solid accent bar, and future steps are gray. Click on any segment to jump directly to that step.
Step Labels
Below the progress bar, the current step icon, name, and number are displayed (e.g., "Media -- Step 1 of 4"). On desktop, quick-jump chips for all steps appear on the right side, with completed steps showing a checkmark icon.
Bottom Navigation Bar
A persistent bottom bar contains:
- Back button (left arrow) -- Returns to the previous step. Disabled on Step 1.
- Preview button (eye icon, mobile only) -- Opens a bottom sheet overlay with the live preview.
- Next button (accent color) -- Advances to the next step. Disabled when current step requirements are not met.
The Next button shows a tooltip explaining why it is disabled when you hover over it (e.g., "Instagram and TikTok require at least one image or video").
On the final step, the Next button is replaced by the Schedule and Publish buttons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I post the same content to all three platforms at once?
Yes. Select all desired accounts in the account selector at the top. The wizard creates separate posts for each platform, with TikTok posts handled through a dedicated API flow. Caption text and media are shared, but each platform receives its own scheduled post entry.
Why is the Next button disabled on the media step?
Instagram and TikTok require at least one media file for every post. Upload an image or video to enable the button. Facebook-only posts can proceed past Step 1 without media as long as a caption is provided in Step 2.
What happens if I close the wizard before publishing?
Your post data is not saved as a draft. If you navigate away from the wizard, all entered text, uploaded media, and settings are lost. Complete all steps and click Schedule or Publish before leaving.
Can I edit a post after scheduling it?
Yes. Navigate to the Scheduler page and click on any scheduled post to open the edit modal where you can modify the caption, media, and scheduled time. See the Queue Management article for details.
What file formats does TikTok accept?
TikTok supports MP4 and MOV video files with 9:16 aspect ratio, duration between 3 seconds and 10 minutes. Photo posts support up to 35 JPEG images. Videos are uploaded using chunked upload for files larger than 5 MB.
Can I write a different caption for each platform?
Yes. When you have selected accounts from at least two different platforms, a "Platform-specific captions" section appears in Step 2 (Text Composition). Activate the toggle for the desired platform to write a custom caption. The main caption serves as a template and fallback for platforms without a custom caption.
Next Steps
- Queue Management -- View and manage your scheduled posts in the calendar
- Media Editor -- Edit photos and videos with the built-in editor
- Media Library -- Organize and reuse your uploaded media files